QUEZON City Councilor Hero Clarence Bautista, the 44-year-old brother of Mayor Herbert Bautista, admitted on Monday he uses prohibited drugs but insisted that he was a “victim” and not a protector of narcotics traffickers.
Delivering a privilege speech at the city council, Bautista, the councilor of the city’s fourth district, said he has a taken a leave in order to undergo rehabilitation.
“I am volunteering myself to embark on a journey, a journey of soul searching and self discovery. As in radio and television, this is Hero Bautista, now signing off—a victim of a drug menace,” said Bautista, who was to serve only his first term as city councilor.
Employees of the Quezon City Hall had been pointing at Bautista as the one city councilor who tested positive for drugs as announced by Vice Mayor Joy Belmonte last August 6.
Under the QC Drug Free Workplace Ordinance, chronic users and drug dependents shall be submitted to a mandatory six-month treatment and rehabilitation in a government rehabilitation center.
When employees again test positive after the rehab treatment, he or she may be suspended or dismissed under Civil Service Commission regulations.
Meanwhile, Bautista said in his speech that his case may serve as a lesson for other drug users and hoped to return to public service soon.
“On my return, to champion the advocacy of the victims of nefarious effects of prohibited and illegal drugs, pro-active measures and programs must be undertaken by government to ease the pain of the victims,” Bautista said.
“I thank my family, children, parents and siblings. Forgive me for the courage to stand up with my head up high,” he said.
“This is my whole life journey with the lesson I learned. Rest assured, my colleagues in the city council, I shall echo not only to you, but to the rest of the community,” he said.
“When pushed to the wall, we have to develop strategies to escape over the wall.”
“I don’t blame anyone, point a finger or accuse anyone. I don’t harbor any ill thought or despise those who accuse,” he said.
“Rest assured, I shall be stronger, more mature and ready to propose policies to address the victims of the drug menace and their families.”
He, however, cleared his brother the mayor of any involvement in illegal drugs.
“People will condemn me. I want to put an end to it because my brother is a mayor. He will never be a (drug) protector. I am the protector of my brother,” he stressed.